master cylinders--SWAP anybody

chopperchuck

Has anybody done a dual chamber master cylinder swap on a 48-52 step down?& kept in under the car,i would prefer to NOT put it on the fire wall.if so what model/yr car/truck did you use?

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chuck

Ol racer

FYI
There is a company that makes an under floor master cyl assy
www.ecihotrodbrakes.com

[Deleted User]

chopperchuck wrote:

Has anybody done a dual chamber master cylinder swap on a 48-52 step down?& kept in under the car,i would prefer to NOT put it on the fire wall.if so what model/yr car/truck did you use?

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chuck

If you use the Pridemore bracket, you can put just about any GM master in the stock location. I am currently running an '07 Trailblazer SS master cylinder (I have upgraded to 4 wheel discs) and it works great.

chopperchuck

Dave you go any picture of your set up?? i was gonna do 4 wheel disc sense i'm gonna swap out my rear end any way,any & all info would be helpful--chuck


Dave i just found out you did your swap back in 08, so if you didn't take pictures i understand :S

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chuck

lsfirth

Or....what I've been looking at are the 90 degree under dash units made by Kugel. I'd love to know if anyone has tried one of these in their stepdown. By the time you get the vaccuum canister in there, they look kind of long and I think it would interfere with the heater core assembly, but not sure. Anyone have any experience with these units. They'd certainly keep the engine bay cleaned up like the underfloor units.

Thanks,
Lee

Lee ODell

I have seen that kit installed, but not in a Hudson. It would be difficult to add brake fluid without adding a remote canister in the engine bay and would be very messy inside the car to add brake fluid without it or when it is time to change master cyl. if needed. Or if you decide to change to a larger bore master cylinder if the brake pedal effort is to sensitive. I think a remote canister would interfer with wiper cables and may not mount higher than the master cly cap. Seems to be alot of work for some aggrevation later on. Just some thoughts.

Lee O'Dell

lsfirth

Lee ODell wrote:

I have seen that kit installed, but not in a Hudson. It would be difficult to add brake fluid without adding a remote canister in the engine bay and would be very messy inside the car to add brake fluid without it or when it is time to change master cyl. if needed. Or if you decide to change to a larger bore master cylinder if the brake pedal effort is to sensitive. I think a remote canister would interfer with wiper cables and may not mount higher than the master cly cap. Seems to be alot of work for some aggrevation later on. Just some thoughts.

Lee O'Dell

Wow Lee....so much negativity...where's your sense of adventure? :-)
Once you had it how you liked it, I bet you'd never need to get into it again (other than checking fluids in the remote resevoirs once in a while) since it would be inside and out of the weather. I just think it would be hard fitting it all under the dash.

Lee

chopperchuck

ok boys-n-girls i started this thread 'cause i was told a while back--that some of the 40's & 50's ford trucks master cylinder would swap,
i try to keep all my post positive, let's just enjoy the ride! :P ---chuck
to all that have posted on this,,,THANK YOU! thanks for the ideas & P/M's

Lee ODell

Hello Lee and Chuck. I didn't intend for my comment to be negative, unfortunate choice of words, but rather I try to be informative and helpful to avoid possible pitfalls.

Lee, I know you are a craftsman and can get the job done. I was thinking ahead after installation about serviceability. I'm not against the set up. If that is what you want I say go for it. It will accomplish your intended purpose. Just a thought. Using a vacuum brake breeder at caliper or wheel cyl to empty master, may help reduce spilling brake fluid on carpet should the need arise to replace the master cyl inside the car. A friend of mine has a beautiful major customized slant back 49 Cadillac with a 90 degree master/brake pedal assembly installed. It is a neat looking brake setup. His master cylinder ended up right below the speaker grill aon top of dash, so he turned the grill into a access door. Possible option for the Hudson.

This may help new comers doing their first master cyl replacement. It is always a good idea to bench bleed a new or rebuilt master cyl before installation. You have no way of knowing how long it has been setting on the shelf, days or years. It is a way to determine if it is good or bad. I have found some bad (new and rebuilt) master cylinders while bench bleeding. Better to find out on the bench than on the car. Sometimes the seal will be stuck to the master cyl bore walls. Secure master cyl on a vice. Add brake fluid. If it is hard to push the piston in and it suddenly moves easily it's an indication the seal was stuck and the seal may be damaged. Better take it back where you bought it and get another one. If the piston moves freely to start with you should be ok. Continue to bleed the air out of the master cyl. Then instal it on the car and bleed all wheel cylinders and/or calipers.

Chuck, there have been some good suggestions. Have you decided on what bracket/master cyl choice for you car yet? What bore/volume size will it be? I would like to now how it works out. Please keep us up to date on the changeover.

Have a good day
Lee O'Dell

chopperchuck

Lee & Lee. it's all good i just didn't want any hurt feeling or hard thoughts to be past on,i'm not worried about the swap as of right now,i've got a hold of a couple fellows who have done their swap & are going to send pictures,i have been batting the idea around about 4 wheel disc {since i gotta change my rear end}worse case scenario is i have to rebuild stock,my biggest problem is I DO NOT OWN ANY OTHER CARS& this will be my only mode of transportion other than my motorcycles,so i need brakes that will be there when the idiot in front of me decides to what idiots do!---chuck

lsfirth

It's all in good spirit.....Lee gave some good advice on bench bleeding a master cyclinder!! Way better to discover this on the bench than in the car. Chuck...it will be interesting to hear/see what you come up with.

By the way, I have the brake/clutch pedals and some of the brackets and attachements from my car that I won't be using. It's pretty crusty, but if you need a spare, let me know!

Keep us posted,

Thanks,
Lee